Eraser holder



1962 M. G. MURRAY 3,049,095

ERASER HOLDER Filed Feb. 24, 1961 INVENTOR.

United States Patent ()flfice 3,049,095 Patented Aug. 14, 1962 3,049,095 ERASER HOLDER Malcolm G. Murray, 737 Clover Ave, Ellwood City, Pa. Filed Feb. 24, 1961, Ser. No. 91,347 12 Claims. (Cl. 120-40) This invention generally relates to eraser holders and more particularly to a refillable holder for an elongated eraser element of comparatively small cross section suitable for erasing limited areas without damaging adjacent lines or characters.

An object of the invention is to provide an eraser holder which is simple in construction, easy to use, well adapted for its intended purposes, and relatively inexpensive to manufacture.

Another object of the invention is to provide an eraser holder in which the eraser can be fed forward by a finger or thumb of one hand without removing the device appreciably from the work. This is an advantage because the eraser normally wears away rapidly due to high unit pressure and it is time consuming and inconvenient to interrupt the actual erasing operation by removing the holder from the work and using both hands to advance the eraser.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully described and claimed hereinafter, reference being had to the accompanying drawing forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 shows a top view of a device constructed in accordance with the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a sectional view taken on line 22 of FIGURE 1 with one flange of the roller broken away and the eraser in place;

FIGURE 3 is an end view with the eraser in place;

FIGURE 4 is a partial section similar to FIGURE 2, but with the eraser removed, permitting the holding spring to rise to its upper position;

FIGURE 5 is a view similar to FIGURE 4 showing an alternate arrangement to retard reverse movement of the eraser;

FIGURE 6 is a view similar to FIGURE 2 showing a modified form of eraser holder adapted for erasing on surfaces which are vertical or nearly so;

FIGURE 7 shows a preferred method of operation.

In carrying out the invention, referring now specifically to the drawing, there is provided a housing 1, comprising a cover Ia and a body 1b, which are fastened permanently together by rivets, cement or other suitable means. The preferred material for the housing is molded plastic such as Bakelite or Celluloid, but other materials can be used. Also the housing can be made from two similar halves of opposite hand, or in one piece, but the construction shown is believed to be more economical to manufacture. In housing 1 there is an entrance channel 2 and an exit channel 2a which accommodate an elongated eraser 3. The entrance channel 2 may be tapered as shown to facilitate loading but the exit channel 2a should be a sliding fit for the eraser 3 without unnecessary clearance. Between channels 2 and 2:: there is an opening 4, which permits the eraser 3 to emerge from the channels. This opening provides space for roller 5 which is preferably flanged. The side flanges on the wheel 5 provide an annular groove around the wheel in which the eraser 3 may fit. Slightly projecting bosses 5a, on each side of roller 5, are for the purpose of diminishing friction in operation. Roller 5 turns on fixed axle 6. This part has its ends turned down to a smaller diameter than the working surface and these ends are pressed into parts It: and lb, thereby making axle 6 stationary. It should be noted that opening 4 is somewhat deeper in body 1b than are channels 2 and 2a and also that this opening cuts into cover 1a. This is necessary because roller 5 is wider than eraser 3 due to flanges, bosses, and operating clearance.

Holding spring 7 has its right end embedded in body 1b. It is narrow enough to move freely between the flanges of roller 5 and is bent so that it presses upward until restricted by stop 8, an integral part of body 1b. Downward movement of spring 8 is limited by stop 9, also integral with body 1b. The purpose of the holding spring is to retard reverse movement of the eraser. Such a device is not absolutely essential, because moderate finger pressure (see FIG. 7) is effective in preventing reverse movement of the eraser, but a hold-back mechanism is desirable because users of the eraser holder may wish to grasp it in a different manner than shown. In FIG. 5 a somewhat different hold-back mechanism is illustrated. Here spring 7 pushes up pawl 10 which swings on shouldered pin 11 (a stationary axle similar to part 6). Pawl 10 jams the eraser against the side of channel 2a, preventing appreciable reverse movement.

FIGURE 6 shows a slightly different design of eraser holder. Stop 8 is omitted, its function of limiting upward movement of spring 7 being assumed by the underside working surface of roller 5. This design, due to having a longer exit channel 2a, is suitable for grasping in the same manner as a hammer. In this case, feeding the eraser is accomplished by the thumb instead of the forefinger as is shown in FIG. 7, and the feeding action can be more powerful.

In operation eraser 3 is inserted in channel 2 and pushed forward (to the left) over roller 5 and through channel 2a, until it protrudes about /8 from the end of the eraser holder. As the eraser passes over spring 7 it forces it down from the position shown in FIG. 4 to that shown in FIG. 2. Pressure on the working end of the eraser will cause it to back up slightly (usually less than at which point the rising spring jams it tightly against further reverse movement. In the design shown in FIG. 5, the pawl 10 acts similarly to retard any backing up of the eraser. As the eraser wears away in use it is fed forward by the finger (or thumb) until a length of only about /2" remains when it is replaced by a new eraser.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

Having thus completely and fully described the invention, what is now claimed as new is as follows:

1. An eraser holder comprising in combination a housing containing an entrance channel and an exit channel each adapted to slidably receive an elongated eraser and between the two channels an opening extending transversely to said housing, a roller mounted on said housing and positioned in said opening, an elongated eraser in said channels and so mounted with respect to said roller that one surface of the eraser is approximately tangent to the periphery of the roller and another surface of the eraser projects outside of the housing for an appreciable distance opposite said open space.

2. An eraser holder as set forth in claim 1, in which there is incorporated a means for retarding reverse motion of the eraser while permitting its advance.

3. An eraser holder as set forth in claim 1 in which a spring member is mounted, said spring member being arranged to retard reverse movement of the eraser while permitting its advance.

4. An eraser holder as set forth in claim 1 in which D a spring pressed pawl is mounted to retard reverse movement of the eraser while permitting its advance.

5. An eraser holder as set forth in claim 1 in which the entrance channel and the exit channel are not in line, but are at an angle to each other.

6. An eraser holder as set forth in claim 1 in which at least one of the channels is curved.

7. An eraser holder as set forth in claim 2 in which the entrance channel and the exit channel are not in line but are at an angle to each other.

8. An eraser holder as set forth in claim 2 in which at least one of the channels is curved.

9. An eraser holder as set forth in claim 3 in which the entrance channel and the exit channel are not in line but are at an angle to each other.

10. An eraser holder as set forth in claim 3 in which at least one of the channels is curved.

11. An eraser holder as set forth in claim 4 in which the entrance channel and the exit channel are not in line, but are at an angle to each other.

12. An eraser holder as set forth in claim 4 in which at least one of the channels is curved.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 273,392 Ream Mar. 6, 1883 1,028,034 Kruger May 28, 1912 1,451,933 Weig Apr. 17, 1923 2,601,544 Metcalf June 24, 1952, 

